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The link between divorce and health issues

On behalf of Schlueter Ecklund & Davitt posted in family law on Monday, September 24, 2018.

Getting a divorce takes the number two spot on the Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory. This tool measures how likely someone in Illinois or elsewhere will experience health problems related to stress within two years of an incident taking place. While divorce can be stressful for anyone, it may take an especially difficult toll on those who are 50 or older. Studying these issues can be important as the divorce rate for this age group has doubled since 1990.

Researchers from Bowling Green University point to several factors for the increase in divorce among older people. One of those factors is that people are living longer than they used to. As women increasingly enter the workforce, they are less reliant financially on their spouses. Those who have been divorced and remarried are 2.5 times more likely to get divorced again. Among the health issues most common among older adults who divorce is depression.

A person who is depressed may be more likely to experience heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Individuals may also experience higher blood pressure related to higher stress levels caused by ending a marriage. Other health problems after divorce may include fatigue, insomnia and mood swings. Those who lose interest in their favorite activities may become sedentary or start indulging in alcohol to make themselves feel better.

Hiring an attorney may be helpful for those engaged with a dispute with their spouse during divorce proceedings. A legal professional may also be answer questions about any part of the divorce process. This may help an individual build a stronger case that he or she should receive alimony or other forms of assistance as part of a divorce settlement. Legal assistance may be available whether a person chooses to dissolve a marriage through private talks, mediation or litigation.

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